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Nonprofit warns of wildfire risk, offers free help after hurricane damaged 46,000 acres in Burke County
Summary
EcoForesters told the Burke County commissioners that Hurricane Helene damaged roughly 46,000 acres in the county, creating wildfire risk and regeneration challenges; the nonprofit said it has crews and no‑cost assistance available to landowners and urged planning and equipment investment.
Eco Foresters, a forestry nonprofit, told the Burke County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 6 that Hurricane Helene left extensive damage in western North Carolina and that Burke County recorded nearly 46,000 acres of forest damage in the storm's aftermath.
Ian Lang Hoorthal, executive director of Eco Foresters, said the North Carolina Forest Service's damage assessment estimated about 46,000 acres affected in Burke County and pegged timber-value loss in the county at more than $10,000,000. "We received funding from the Community Foundation in Western North Carolina" for recovery work, Hoorthal said.
Why it matters: Commissioners were urged to plan for ongoing recovery needs, because the nonprofit said the material left on the ground will raise wildfire risk for several years and…
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